FAA lifts emergency flight restrictions imposed during 43-day government shutdown

The FAA lifted emergency flight reduction orders at 40+ airports effective November 17, ending restrictions that caused thousands of cancellations during the 43-day government shutdown (the longest in U.S. history). Cancellations peaked November 9 at over 2,900 flights in a single day. The FAA cited improved air traffic controller staffing, dropping from 81 staffing triggers on Nov. 8 to just one on Nov. 16.